Yet, like a sound piercing the very brain, it caused Jian Xing and the others’ hearts to tremble! As if ensnared and stirred by an invisible, malevolent power, they were plunged into a feeling of boundless terror and despair!
Jian Wu, Jian Xing, Jian Qi, and Jian Chi exchanged startled glances.
"Could it be that in the entire vast Biqi Empire, there isn't a single soul who can withstand even one of my moves?" Zhan Lang's tone carried a hint of disdain, though mixed with far more disappointment and resignation!
This only served to confuse Jian Xing and the others further!
"You—what exactly do you want?" Though unaware of the underlying reason, Jian Xing was certain that Zhan Lang's appearance in the Imperial Palace wasn't solely to kill. He must have another objective.
But what could that purpose be?
"Nothing much. I'm just looking for a marginally competent opponent," Zhan Lang replied. "That's all."
"A competent opponent," Jian Wu ground out through clenched teeth. "What boundless arrogance! Why don't you go find Jiuyao Shenzhen of the Divine Dragon Empire instead?"
"Jiuyao Shenzhen." Zhan Lang seemed momentarily puzzled, but quickly grasped the context. "Are you referring to the master of Yueying?"
"Exactly," Jian Qi confirmed. "If you have the nerve, go find him! What's the point of showing off your might in our Biqi Empire?"
"Hahaha." Zhan Lang seemed genuinely amused, surprisingly halting his aggressive stance. "So his name is Jiuyao Shenzhen. He is strong. Combined with Yueying, I admit I am not his match—but only temporarily."
"Big talk," Jian Chi scoffed dismissively.
"Never mind that for now," Zhan Lang continued. "If you can answer a few questions for me, I might consider sparing your lives."
"..." Jian Qi was momentarily stunned.
Jian Wu, however, felt a cold jolt. It seemed Zhan Lang had indeed come to the Palace with a hidden agenda. If they could discern his true intent, perhaps this crisis could be averted! Thinking this, Jian Wu subconsciously glanced at Jian Xing, only to find him wearing an equally thoughtful expression.
As sovereign and minister for decades, Jian Wu instantly understood Jian Xing's thoughts and knew he should be the one to answer.
"What questions?" Jian Wu asked.
"Among the humans on this continent, who possesses the greatest strength?" Zhan Lang posed a strange inquiry.
"Naturally, Jiuyao Shenzhen," Jian Wu replied. "He is the recognized strongest warrior."
"I see." Zhan Lang didn't seem surprised by this answer. "And who ranks next after him?"
"After him, it should be Feng Xiao and You Quan from the Snow Domain Continent," Jian Wu stated. "It's a pity they were both lost in that spatial turbulence accident, their fate unknown."
"Indeed, a great pity," Zhan Lang sounded genuinely regretful. "So, among those still living, who is the generally recognized second strongest?"
"The generally recognized second master is the survivor among the Seven Spirit Pearls masters of the Snow Domain Continent: You Yue." Jian Wu finished.
"Snow Domain Continent, You Yue!" Zhan Lang suddenly exclaimed with delight. "Hahahaha! It seems this trip to the Imperial Palace was not in vain!"
Just as Zhan Lang burst into hearty laughter, a colossal wave of magical fluctuation suddenly washed over them!
"What is that?" Zhan Lang was instantly taken aback. "It’s a spatial magic fluctuation."
Almost simultaneously with the spatial magic wave, an even more violent and intense surge of Dou Qi energy swept in!
"Ah! This is..." Zhan Lang's expression shifted dramatically. "Yueying's aura!"
A wave of ecstatic joy surged through Jian Wu and the others!
"It’s Xing Chen!" Jian Chi cried out happily. "He's finally here!"
"Finally!" Jian Xing let out a sigh of relief, feeling more grateful than ever for the miraculous Memory Set. The Celestial Sword, which had previously plagued his nights and days with its ghostly presence, had now become their last line of salvation!
This was truly unexpected!
"Alert: Two powerful life signatures are rapidly approaching, distance 3000 meters. Life field reading: 9095. Tactical computer analysis: It is Yueying and her Master."
"How can they be so fast?" Zhan Lang could hardly believe it! This location was nearly twenty thousand kilometers from that spot on the Divine Dragon Continent. No matter how astonishing Yueying’s flight speed was, she shouldn't be able to reach here in such a short time. Could it be spatial teleportation?
"Damn it, one day I will make you understand the might of Zhan Lang!" Sensing the aura immediately, Zhan Lang violently sprang upwards, shooting out like lightning toward the horizon! In the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace! His speed was simply incomprehensible!
On the expansive training ground, Jian Xing, Jian Wu, and the others stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded!
"He just... left like that," Jian Qi murmured, seeming utterly incredulous.
"I didn't realize he held such deep apprehension toward Jiuyao Shenzhen," Jian Xing's expression was complex, his heart a confusing mess of emotions. This was his power? Even a monster as formidable as Zhan Lang didn't dare face him directly! He fled in panic merely upon sensing his aura!
Jian Chi, meanwhile, was overcome with a mix of awe and excitement!
Xing Chen!
His junior martial brother, who used to show him mercy during their sparring matches in the past, had now grown to such a terrifying level. In those days, this was entirely unimaginable—it all felt like a dream!
The scenes from thirty years ago were now vividly etched into Jian Chi's mind! The moonlit duels, the soaring ambition, the bold boasts of absolute supremacy—all echoed clearly in his head even now!
"Sword God?"
"Good. The Sword God must belong to Dragon Shadow Villa. I certainly won't disappoint you."
"Not bad, brat."
"Haha, spirited, though perhaps a bit unaware of the immensity of the world."
"Remember your words today."
"If Master dies and someone else steals the position of Sword God, I will tear you limb from limb."
...
On that moonlit night, the five core disciples of Dragon Shadow Villa gathered for the first and last time. For years, every time he recalled that hazy, moonlit night, Jian Chi felt a near-illusory sense of unreality. The brilliant, magnificent War God they knew was his own junior martial brother! Perhaps even he hadn't expected that, having aimed to become the Sword God, he would end up inadvertently donning the Heaven Demon Battle Armor and growing into the overwhelmingly powerful figure who could shake the continent with a mere stomp!
Dragon Shadow Sword God? Little Brother, how can such a modest title suit you now!
Everyone raised their heads, gazing in the direction from which the aura originated!
In an instant, a streak of purple light shot toward them from the distance! Amidst that terrifying aura, which felt like an overwhelming tidal wave, two purple figures descended from the sky, alighting before the group!
Everyone felt a suffocating heaviness and oppressive pressure! This imposing presence far surpassed that of Zhan Lang just moments before!
Both figures wore identical Phoenix